Black History Month Events

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New Media Chief Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges

In a surprising reversal former Chief Executive of the local New Media Charter School changed her plea to guilty in the federal case involving $861,000 in stolen taxpayer dollars and bank fraud.

Ina M. Walker of Mt. Airy admitted to all 28 counts including conspiracy, wire fraud, misuse of federal funds, and borrowing from a bank with false documents.   Judge Jan E. DuBois scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 27.

Ms. Walker has agreed to cooperate with federal investigators and testify against Hugh Clark, New Media founder and a resident of Germantown’s Awbury Section.

A federal grand jury had indicted Clark and Walker for using over half a million in funds earmarked for the New Media Charter School to fund a local restaurant on Mt Airy Avenue known as the Black Olive and a related health food store, as well as for personal expenses and those of small charter school known as the Lotus Academy.   Reportedly Ms. Walker controlled the bank accounts at New Media and Lotus Academy. The Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation was an initial supporter of the New Media Charter School and its landlord.

In addition the Grand Jury charged Walker and Clark with falsifying documents relative to leases and financial statements on a loan application with the Wilmington Savings Fund Society.  Part of those charges included false or forged signatures of renters and misrepresented income, according to reliable sources.

Walker and Clark also appear as principals who were bailed out with a controversial use of public dollars in the purchase of a Mt. Airy nightclub very close to the former Black Olive restaurant.  North by Northwest, a twice failed Germantown Avenue club-restaurant was bought with assistance from OARC (Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation) funded by State Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans in April 2009.  After the funding that exceed $700,000 satisfied debts run up by former principals who included Walker and Clark, well-known attorney Carl Singley and his wife, the establishment failed to reopen.

Suffering from L & I citations, mechanical and management issues, North by Northwest closed but continues in litigation, although the facility has reopened for special events. The use of public dollars to resuscitate a failed nightclub was justified by OARC spokesman Jack Kitchen as one having tremendous potential and having been under-utilized.  Although OARC began funding businesses some years ago within the borders of the legislative district of State Representative Dwight Evans, it has expanded well beyond those borders in other areas of Northwest Philadelphia.  Representative Evans was removed from the chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee by special vote within the Democratic Party last December.

Expert Panel Exploring Community

Development Corporation Best Practices

Germantown United CDC (GU CDC) will present an expert panel exploring best practices of Community Development Corporations on Wednesday, February 29, in Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood.

All concerned citizens, neighborhood organizations, community stakeholders and city officials are invited to hear from and engage with a panel of experts and learn how productive and people-oriented CDCs function to create sustainable communities.

Germantown United is proud to have, as the Keynote speaker and part of the expert panel, Colvin W. Grannum, President of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (BSRC) based in Brooklyn, which is the nation’s first Community Development Corporation, founded by Robert Kennedy and Jacob Javits in 1967. Mr. Grannum has served as President of BSRC since March 2001.

Restoration owns and manages a 300,000 square feet commercial and cultural center in the heart of Central Brooklyn, which is home to the Billie Holiday Theatre, the Skylight Gallery, the College of New Rochelle, three banks and several major retailers. Under Mr. Grannum’s leadership, Restoration is experiencing a robust resurgence.

The panel of experts will include: Andy Frishkoff, Executive Director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); Barbara Hogue, Executive Director, Historic Germantown; Steve Mullin, Senior Vice President & Principal, Econsult; Rick Sauer, Executive Director, Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations; and Sandy Salzman, Executive Director, New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC).

Confirmed special guests include: newly elected 8th District Councilwoman Cindy Bass; State Representative Rosita Youngblood, 198th Legislative District; State Senator Shirley Kitchen, 3rd District; Representatives from The Philadelphia Department of Commerce; and Representatives from Philadelphia City Planning Commission.

The panel will be held from 7 – 9: 30 p.m., location in Germantown to be determined. RSVP required. To RSVP, please email feedback@germantownunitedcdc.org or call (215) 991-5711.

After the demise of Germantown Settlement, Germantown United CDC recognizes that it is time for a new beginning.

The combination of diversity, history and community are all essential elements that make Germantown one of Philadelphia’s best neighborhoods. Germantown United’s initial goal is to see that the neighborhood’s Commercial Corridors are developed and transformed to attract shoppers, history buffs, diners, art and music lovers, cultural enthusiasts and more.

“The Germantown community is more united now than it has been in many years. The time has come for us to seize the momentum we have created together and redevelop Germantown’s commercial corridors in such a sustainable way that it will serve as a national model to be admired and emulated. This, our first public panel presentation, marks the beginning of a new era in Germantown,” said John Churchville, GU CDC spokesperson.

For more information, visit www.germantownunitedcdc.org.

Name Change Made by Members of Germantown Y

by Jim Foster

Editor

Closed for an extended period as a result of a July 2008 flood and management issues, a new board and volunteer force, coupled with upgrades to the facility and its pool, are now offering all the services this Germantown landmark was famous for, including exercise, Olympic swimming pool, steam and sauna rooms, weight room and expansive facilities that serve any number of community based needs.  Expanded programs and training are part of the new focus that is planned to affect the quality of life in Germantown for families and individuals of all ages.

Part of the process of reopening included making a clear distinction between being a member of the YMCA national organization and a self-contained community center that offered all that a Y did and much more.

The membership voted to make a formal name change of the institution to the Germantown Life Enrichment Center.  A sub heading under the new name explains its history and mission when it states:  “An historic interfaith association for culture and fitness.”

The meeting of Members and Directors then discussed issues of how the organization would upgrade its facilities further and make the larger Germantown community aware of its broad based approach to serving needs at all levels.

1. •Taxation Without Cessation
   

2. •Three Points to Ponder
   

3. •The Real State of the Union
   

4. •Independents’ Day
   

5. •Archdiocese Guts Philly Schools
   

6. •Mt. Airy Transit Village
   

7. •Mayor Nutter Goes Back to School
   

8. •Gorging at the Public Trough
   

9. •It’s a Wonderful Life
   

10. •Top Six, Top Five
    

11. •Promises Were Made
    

12. •A Living Wage Campaign
    

13. •Thanksgiving Without Food - Brownworth
    

14. •Are Dem’s Days Numbered in Philly?
    

15. •Germantown Monopoly Has A Parallel
    

16. •Penn State’s Rape Scandal
    

17. •Missing Funds Found ... Mandel
    

18. •Learning from History
    

19. •Occupy the Vote - Brownworth
    

20. •City Commission Slaps Miller
    

21. •GOP Boss Helps Democrats
    

22. •Officials Have Let Us Down
    

23. •Donna Miller Sells Out Germantown
    

24. •Free Speech Isn’t Free - Mandel
    

25. •This is Germantown
    

26. •The Train That Changed History
    

27. •Neighborhood Saved? - Brownworth
    

28. •Wait til NextPhilly Year - Mandel
    

29. •Philadelphia’s Gangster Government
    

30. •No OARC, Evans Links
    

31. •Northwest’s Dirty Laundry
    

32. •Godfather Tactics
    

33. •Pat Burns & a Small Circle ...
    

34. •The Day the Music Died - 10 Years Later
    

35. •Chelten Plaza Appeal Sept. 21
    

36. •City’s Assessment More-atorium
    

37. •City Cites Fresh Grocers
    

38. •A Forecast from Harrisburg
    

39. •Chelten Plaza Update for Sept. 1
    

40. •Why Irene Was Not Katrina
    

41. •Pay to Play - Brett Mandel
    

42. •A Challenge to the Philadelphia Inquirer
    

43. •An Exercise in Disrespect
    

44. •Philadelphia Makes National News
    

45. •An Inquisition
    

46. •Can Women Lead?
    

47. •Shared Sacrifice from My Side of the Aisle
    

48. •Editor’s Notes on the Shared Sacrifice Commentary
    

49. •White Collar Welfare
    

50. •Solving Philadelphia’s Pension Mess
    

51. •Chelten Plaza Protest
    

52. •Germantown Shortchanged
    

53. •GCC Discord
    

54. •Reject City Oversight Plan - Brett Mandel
    

55. •Developers Largely Silent
    

56. •Mt. Airy’s Yvonne Haskins
    

57. •Addicted America
    

58. •Crony Capitalism Thrives in the Northwest
    

59. Features Index
    

60. Editorial, Opinion & Letters